Rim for pneumatic tires



April 9 A. e. MARANVILLE 1,954,757

RIM FOR PNEUMATIC TIRES Filed Sept. 10, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet. 1

' ATTORNEYS April 1934. A. G. MARANVILLE 1,954,757

B1. FOR Pmauu'rrc TIRES Filed Sept. 10, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY5 I April 3 A. G. MARANVILLE 1,954,757

RIM FOR PNEUMATIC TIRES Filed Sept. 10. 1931' 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEYS APril 1934- A. GQMARANVILLE 1,954,757

RIM FOR PNEUMATIC TIRES Filed Sept. 16, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 @gggf April 1934- A. s. MARANVILLE 1,954,757

RIM FOR PNEUMATIC TIRES Filed Sept. 10, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 NORM-M ATTORNEYI:

"Patented Apr. 10,1934, 7 v V UNITED STATES PATENT: OFFICE 1,954,751 I am son. rsaum'rrc mas Alger G. Maranville, Akron, Ohio, assignor to The General Tire a Rubber Company, Akron, Ohio, a corporation oi Ohio Application September 10,1931, sci-m No. 562,004.-

' 14 Claims. (01. 152-21) This invention relates to wheel constructions, ner of removing the assembled rim from the and more particularly to demountable wheels wheel hub;

and rims ior use on airplanes, automobiles, and Fig. 6 is an enlarged section taken substanother vehicles. tially on the line 6-6 of Fig. illustrating the g In my copending application Serial No. 426,333, manner of locking the hub stud in position on 60 filed Feb. 6, 1930 and my co-pending application the hub member; Serial No. 628,869, filed August 15, 1932, I have Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view showshown a pneumatic tire construction having a ing the method of attaching the hub disk to small diametered relatively wide base and which the outer rim hali;

. is stream-lined. The present invention relates Fig. 8 is a section taken substantially on the 5 to wheelsv and rims oi the demountable type on line 8-8 of Fig. 7;

which tires 01' the type shown in said copending Fig. 9 is a side elevation oi a similar type of application and also oi the conventional type wheel and rim for use in motor vehicles and can be easily and quickly mounted. showing a tire mounted thereon;

One oi the objects oi the present invention is Fig. 10 is a section taken substantially on the 7 to provide a demountable wheel and rim.conline 1010 of Fi 9; struction oi an improved type which will safely Fig. 11 is an enlarged section taken substanaccommodate pneumatic tires having relatively tially on the line 11-11 of Fig. 9; wide bases and relatively small rim diameters. Fig. 12 is a section taken substantially on the Another objectis to provideawheel' rim which line 12-'12 oi Fig. 9: 7

' is demountableirom a wheel hub and which can Fig. 13 is a section taken substantially on the be easily disassembled to permit the removal oi line 13-13 oi Fig. 9 to-illustrate the bracing a pneumatic tire. i ribs tor the wheel spokes;

Another object is to provide a pneumatic tire Fig. 14 is a dis-assembled view oi the rim conrim ior airplanes and motor vehicles of improved struction shown in Figs. 9 to 13; p construction which can be economically manu- Fig. 15 is a transverse section through a modiiactured. fled type of a mounting for a vehicle tire of the A iurther object is to provide a wheel and rim pneumatic type;

construction ior airplanes which is sturdy in Fig. 16 is an enlarged section showing the manso construction but light in weight. ner oi inserting the mounting to a wheel hub;

with the above and other objects in view, the and present invention may be said to consist oi cer- Fig. 17 is an enlarged section taken on the tain features oi construction and combinations line'17-17 oi Fig. 15. oi parts which will be apparent to those skilled Referring to the accompanying drawings in 5 in the art to which the invention appertains. which like numerals reier to like parts through- In the drawings which illustrate suitable emout the several views, the construction oi the bodiments oi the present invention, present invention comprises a wheel huh l of tu- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a demountable bular shape having suitable vanti-iriction bearwheel and rim suitable for airplanes and having ings 2 at its ends mounted on a shaft 3. The anti- 40 a tire mounted thereon, portions of the axially iriction bearings 2 preferably are oi the radial outward disk being broken away to show the end thrust type and arranged to absorb end method of mounting the rim to the wheel hub; thrusts oi the wheel hub on the shait 3. The hub Fig. 2 is a transverse section takensubstanis provided with radially inwardly extending tially on the line 2-2 oi Fig. 1; flanges 4 which engage against the radially outer 45 Fig. 3 is an enlarged section taken substanraces oi the bearings and a nut 5 is threaded on tially on the line 3-3 oi Fig. 1 and showing the the shaft 3 to engage the radially inner race oi parts oi the hub and rim in dis-assembled relathe axially outermost bearing 2 and hold the hub tion to illustrate the demountable features; against movement endwiseoi the shaft 3. The

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section taken substanhub 1 is iormed with a circumferential flange 6 5o tially on the-line 4-4 oiFig. 1 showing the intermediate its ends which, at a point radially method of securing the hub ring tothe axially outwardly oi the wheel hub, extends outwardly at outward rim half; an angle for a considerable distance to provide Fig. 5 is an enlarged section taken substana irusto-conical seat for one of the rim elements tialiy on the line 5-5 oi Fig. 1 showing the parts to be later described. This upwardly and out- 55 in dis-assembled position to illustrate the manwardly extending portion oi the flange 6 termiflange 6 is braced -by means of a plurality of radialribs 11 which extend at regular intervals from ..the outboard end of the hub 1 to the flange 6 and terminate at points radially inwardly of the flange 6. The axially opposite side of the flange 6 is also braced and strengthened by means of radial ribs 12 which extend at regular intervals from the inboard end of the hub 1 and are formed integral with the flange 6, with the radially outwardly extending portion of the flange 6, and with a portion of the brake drum 7 as shown in Fig. 2.

The portion of the construction of the present invention comprises axially outer and inner rim halves A and B, respectively. These rim halves are preferably spun from a suitable aluminum alloy and each is formed with an inwardly extending radial flange 13 that abuts in the assembly against the corresponding flange of the other element. From this radial flange 13 the rim half is formed with an inclined portion 14 which extends away from the flange 13 at an angle of approximately 60 degrees, as shown in the drawings, although this angle may be varied to meet various conditions. The angular portion 14 is formed with a bead seat 15 which is formed at a slight angle to the horizontal, as shown in Fig.2, and which is formed with ,an outwardly extending radial flange 16 that engages the straight side of the tire bead. The radial flange 16 terminates in a narrow axial flange portion 17 which engages with a portion of the side wall stock of the tire for a purpose to be later described.

Each of the rim halves is strengthened by a reinforcing ring 18 which may be of suitable aluminum alloy and which nests or closely fits the inner circumferential face of the outer portions of the rim half. In other words, the reinforcing ring 18 is formed with a surface that abuts' against the inner circumferential surfaces of the tire bead seating portion 15, the radial flange portion 16, and the axial flange portion 1'7. This ring is secured by means of suitable rivets 19 to the portions 15 and 16 of the rim half. The rim This hub ring is secured to the radial flange 13 by means of suitable rivets 20. r

The ring halves A and B are assembled together with the flanges 13 in abutting relation by means of cap screws 21 that extend through openings in the flange 13 of the rim half B and thread into bosses 22 formed on the outboard face of the hub ring20 which provides a hub securing means for holding the two rim halves together. The

hub ring 20 is reinforced with ribs 23 which extend from the bosses up to the outermost part of the hub ring. The outer rim half A'is provided with a valve stem opening 24 through which the valve 25 of the tire inner tube 26 'extends.

The tire 27 is formed with overhanging portions 28.of rubber stock adjacent the radial faces of the beads which, when the tire is inflated, compress and tightly engage with the axial flanges 17 of the rim halves and form a dirt and watertight seal.

The rim halves A and B are demountable from each other to permit an easy assembly of the tire casing thereto and furthermore the tire rim is demountable as a unit from the wheel hub. This is accomplished by forming axially inwardly extending bosses 29 on the inner face of the axially radial flange 6 into which securing studs 30 are threaded. These studs 30 are provided'with a flange 31 arranged to seat in a recess formed on the axially outer surface of the flange 6 and lie substantially flush with this surface. The flange 31 is provided with a notched out recess and a pin 32 is extended through this recess and through an opening 33 provided in the boss 29 parallel with the stud 30 to hold the stud against rotation when it is in its proper position. The studs 30 extend outwardly from the flange 6 and are provided with threaded outer ends and the assembled rim halves are clamped to the radial flange 6 by means of these studs 30 which extend through openings 34 formed in the flanges 13 of the rim halves and the hub ring 20. Suitable nuts 35 are threaded on the outer ends of the studs 30 and clamp the assembled rim halves to the flange 6.

In the assembled position the heads of the cap screws 21 which bolt the two rim halves together extend into a recess 36formed in the face of the flange 6. j

An axial locating flange 37 is formed on the radial flange 6 to assist in locating the assembled rim halves on the "wheel hub. The radially outer circumferential surface of the flange 3'? is of a diameter slightly less than the diameter of the hub ring and axial surfaces of the rim flanges 13 so as to prevent binding when the rim elements are assembled to the wheel hub.

When the assembled rim halves are mounted on the wheel hub the axially inner face of the flange 13 of the rim half B is clamped against the face of the hub flange 6 and the angular portion '14 of the rim half B is seated against and strengthened by the outwardly extending portion of the flange 6, as shown in Fig. 2. The other rim half A, as previously described, is reinforced by means of the hub ring 20 which seats against the radially inner surface of the angular portion 14.

The open end of the hub 1 is closed in by a hub cap portion 38 spun from suitable metal which has an axial flange portion that engages with the inner periphery of the hub 1. This hub cap is held 'in position by means of resilient straps 39 secured thereto and which have end portions that snap into recesses 40 formed on the inner periphery of the hub 1.

In order to assist in the stream-lining ,of the wheel and rim construction and to present a neat appearance, the axially outer rim half is completely closed in. This is accomplished by means of a circular disk 41 that flts within a circular depression 42 formed in the flange 19 of the 1 outer rim reinforcing ring 18. The marginal edges of the disk 41 are clinched around the edges of an axially inwardly extending axial ring 43 which extends inwardly beyond the flange 19.

Resilient spring members 44' are secured to the inner face of the ring 43 and are provided with conical pins 45 which extend through openings formed in the ring 43 and arranged to engage the axially innerside of the flange 18', as shown in Fig. '7. The cover disk 41 is released by merely airplane use since it permits the use of a wide ,and preventing deflection of flange 6.

and small diametered base tire casing without sacrificing strength and without preventing the use of a brake drum. Furthermore, the wheel and braking apparatus used in connection therewith are very compactly-arranged in the construction shown. The rim portion is furthermore so arranged that the hub will absorb end thrust without distortion through the medium of the reinforced inclined or angular portions ofthe rim halves. The ribs 11 and 12 formed on the hub portion also assist in absorbing end thrust the rim supporting In Figs. 9 to 14, inclusive, a similar construction is shown for use in motor vehicles. In this construction, however, thewheel and rim assembly is secured directly to the conventional hub andbrake drum of a motor vehicle. The construction shown in these views embodies a central disk portion having a radially inner por-- tion for attachment to a wheel hub of conventional type through suitable bolts, and an outer radial portion 51 which terminates in a remforcing flange 52 arranged at an angle approximately 20 degrees to the axis of the radial por-' tion 51.

The radial portion 51 is also formed with an axial centering flange 53 having a machined outer surface, the flange being arranged radially inwardly of the outer periphery of the portion 51.

The rim elements C and D are of the same general shape as the rim elements previously described, and each is provided with an inner radial securing flange 54 which, when the elements are assembled, abut against each other. In this construction the rim element D is secured by rivets 55 directly to the angular flange 52 in the same manner that the rim element C is secured to theangular hub ring 56.

In order to insure that the rim elements will always be secured together in the same relationship, dowel pins 57 are mounted in the portion 51 at irregular intervals, as shown in Fig. 11. These dowel pins extend through openings in the flange 54 of the rim element C and the hub ring 56 and provide means for aligning the rim elements. The radially inner peripheries of the flange 54 and hub ring 56 are further flnished so as to have a sliding flt with the machined surface of the axial centering flange 53 in order to provide additional locating means for the rim element C with respect to the element D. X

As shown in Fig. 10, the portion 51 is oifset slightly with respect to the inner radial securing portion 50 and'in order to strengthen the same a plurality of ribs 58 are provided to extend from the portion 50 to the angular flange 52.

As shown in Fig. 9, the metal between the por-. tions 50 and 51 is cut away at regular tervals to provide spoke portions 59. However, 9 same may be of disk-like construction if desired. In

the wheel: and rim construction last described. the

tire maybe easily mounted on the rim without removing the wheel portion fromthe vehicle by merely removing the bolts 60 which secured the two parts together and which permit the element C to be easily removed. In some cases, however, it may be desired to remove the complete wheel assembly from the vehicle by loosening the nuts which secure the portion 50 to the flange hub and then after the wheel assembly is removed by. removing the rim element 0 in the manner described. i i

In the airplane construction flrst described, the assembled rim elements A and-B are first bodily removed from the wheel hub 1 by threading the nuts 35 and then after the rim assembly is removed the rim elements are separated by removing the cap screws 21 which permits a quick and easy mounting of the tirecasing on the rim elements. g

It will be noted that in both constructions described, the tire rim is separated on a median plane. The rim elements furthermore are demountable from the wheel hub as a unit and are also separable from each other. In each construction, means is provided that the rim elements will beassembled in their proper relationship. The rim elements in both constructions are very rigidly reinforced at their outer edges and are also rigidly reinforced at their centers where the load is transmitted to the wheel hubs.

A modified type of tire mounting is shown in Figs. 15 to 1'7. As shown in these views, the rim portions both form a wheel of the disk type. The mounting is shown as mounted on a vehicle wheel hub '70 on which provisions have been made to insure proper alignment of the wheel and rim sections E and F with respect to the hub and with respect to each other.

Each section embodies an annular radial portion 71 having an inclined peripheral flange 72 that extends outwardly and terminates in an axial tire bead seat '73} the tire bead seat 73 bellfi ing formed at its edge with a suitable radial flange 74.

by suitable bolts '75 and then secured as a unit to the wheel hub 70. Means is provided in this construction to provide a yielding lock between the two sections. This, as shown in Fig. 15, is accomplished by forming one of the elements with an outwardly bulging portion 76 in the region of each hole through which the clamping bolt '75 extends. The nut 77 is formed with a curved surface to flt the bulging portion 76. It is obvious that as the sections are clamped together, the bulging portions '16 will yield to some extent and, thereby provide a. very rigid clamping connection. In order to assist in the proper alignment of the two sections, the radial portions '71 are offset to provide nesting locating shoulders 78.

The inner marginal edges of the radial portions '71 are flared slightly at 79, as shown in Fig. 15, and are arranged to engage with a cylindrical shoulder 80 formed on the hub 70 with a very snug flt in order to properly position the wheel illustration and that various modifications of said- Furthermore, it is to be understood that the particular forms of apparatus shown and described, and. the particular procedure set forth, are presented for purposes of explanation and apparatus and procedure can be made without departing from my invention as deflned in the appended claims. I

What I claim is:

l. A wheel and rim construction comprising an annular hub having a radial flange and a pair of rim elements each having a radially inwardlyextending inner flange abutting the other and detachably secured to said radial hub flange, an integral outwardly extending angle portion diverging away from the corresponding angle portion of the other at a substantial angle, and an integral angular bead seat portion, each said angular bead seat portion having an angular reinforcing ring fitted against and rigidly secured to the angle portions of said bead seat portion.

2. A wheel and rim construction comprising an annular hub having an outwardly extending radial flange terminating in an angle portion extending outwardly at an angle thereto and a pair of rim elements each having a radially inwardly extending inner flange abutting the other and an outwardly extending angle portion terminating in an angular bead seat, said radial flanges of said rim elements being detachably secured to said radial flange, the angle portion of one of said rim elements being seated against the said angle portion of said hub flange and the angle portion of the other rim element having a reinforcing ring rigidly secured thereto.

3. A wheel and rim construction comprising an annular hub having an outwardly extending radial flange terminating in an angle portion extending outwardly at an angle thereto and a pair of rim elements each having a radially inwardly extending inner flange abutting the other and an outwardly extending angle portion terminating in an angular bead seat, said radial flanges of said rim elements being detachably secured to said radial hub flange, the angle portion of one of said rim elements being seated against the said angle portion of said hub flange and the other of said rim elements having an angular hub ring secured to its radial portion and seating against its angle portion.

4. A wheeland rim construction comprising an annular hub having an outwardly extending radial flange terminating in an angle portion extending outwardly therefrom and axial webs integral with said radial flange at opposite sides thereof, the webs at one side of said flange be-. ing integral with said angle portion, a pair of rim elements each having a radially inwardly extending flange detachably secured to the other and an outwardly extending angle portion diverging away from the other, an angular. hub ring rigidly secured to the radial flange of one rim element and abutting the angle portion thereof, the other rim element having its radial flange and angle portion respectively abutting the radial flange and angle portion of said.

hub, a plurality of studs secured .to said hub flange and extending through said rim element flanges and hub ring, and nuts threaded on said studs for rigidly clamping said rim elements against said hub flange.

5. A .wheel andrim construction comprising a radial wheel portion, a rim half secured to the peripheral surface of said wheel portion and havtogether.

ing aradially inwardly extending flange abut ting said wheel portion, a second rim half also having a radial flange, a hub ring secured to said second rim half, and bolt means extending through said wheel portion and hub ring. for rigidly and detachably clamping said rim halves 6. A wheel and rim construction comprising a radial wheel portion, a rim half secured to the abutting said wheel portion, a second rim half also having a radial flange, a hub ring secured to said second rim half. dowel pins carried by said wheel portion and extending through said second rim half and hub ring for aligning said rim halves, and bolt means extending through said wheel portion and hub ring for rigidly and detachably clamping said rim halves together.

7. A wheel and rim construction comprising a radial wheel portion, a rim half secured to the peripheral surface of said wheel portion and having a radially inwardly extending flange abutting said wheel portion, a second rim half also having a radial flange, a hub ring secured to said second rim half, an annular axial flange on said wheel portion having a sliding flt with said radial flange of said second rim half, and bolt means extending through said wheel portion and hub ring for rigidly and detachably clamping said rim halves together.

8. A wheel and rim construction comprising a radial wheel portion, a rim half secured to the peripheral surface of said wheel portion and having a radially inwardly extending flange abutting said wheel portion, a second rim half also having a radial flange, a hub ring secured to said second rim half, dowel pins carried by said wheel portion and extending through said second rim half and hub ring for aligning said rim halves, an annular axial flange on said wheel portion having a sliding flt with said radial flange of said second rim half, and bolt means extending through said wheel portion and hub ring for rigidly and detachably clamping said rim halves together.

9. A wheel and rim construction comprising a radial wheel portion having a marginal flange extending at an angle thereto, an angular rim half rigidly secured to said flange and having a radially inwardly extending flange abutting against said wheel portion, a second rim half having a radial flange, an annular hub ring secured to said second rim half and having a radial portion abutting against said last mentioned flange, and bolt means extending through said wheel portion and hub ring for rigidly and detachably clamping said rim halves together.

10. A wheel and rim construction comprising a pair of annular metal sections, each having a radial portion and an axial portion for seating and supporting one bead of a pneumatic tire casing, one of said sections having in its radial portion near the periphery thereof portions bulging outwardly away from the other of said sections, and securing bolts extending through the said bulging portions and through the other of said sections for compressing said bulging portions and rigidly securing said sections together.

11. A wheel and rim construction for pneumatic tires, comprising a hub having a radially outwardly extending flange, a rim including a pair of rim halves, each of said rim halves having radially inwardly extending portions abutting the other substan ially at the median plane oi said disk-like portion having an integral circumferential flange flaring outwardly at an angle thereto, a rim half having an inwardly extending radial portion abutting said disk like portion and a conical portion seating against said circumferential flange, a second rim half having an inwardly extending radial portion abutting the corresponding radial portion of said first rim half,

a conical portion diverging away from said first conical portion at a material angle and a reinforcing ring having a flange abutting said radial portion and a flange abutting said conical portion of said second rim half, and bolt means securing said rim halves together.

13. .In a wheel and rim structure a rim comprising a pair of rim halves having radial portions to r abutting each other and conical portions diver ing away from each other at a substantial acute angle, each of said conical portions terminating in a bead supporting portion including a generally axial bead seat and a radial flange and having a continuous reinforcing ring of angular cross section, one portion of said ring being secured to said bead seat and one portion being secure to said radial flange. I

14. A wheel and rim structure comprising a cylindrical hub having a radial portion provided with an internal outwardly flaring conical portion, said conical portion terminating in a coaxial brake drum, and a pair of rim elements secured together and to said radial portion, one of said rim elements having an outwardly flaring conical portion seating against said conical portion of said hub and the other of said rim elements having an outwardly flaring conical portion diverging away from the corresponding conical portion of the other and also having an angle shaped reinforcing ring abutting the conical portion-thereof, both said conical portions of said rim elements having marginal angle shaped bead supporting portions.

ALGER G. MARANVILLE. 

